Methods and apparatus for suspending fixtures

Abstract

The apparatus of the invention includes an angle bracket with a hole for a fastener and a flange with a hole for coupling a wire to the angle bracket. The flange is arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the axis of the fastener and substantially perpendicular to the axis of the wire. Six embodiments of a bracket according to the invention are disclosed. According to the invention a wire is provided with a deformation or attachment at one end which prevents it from passing completely through the hole in the flange of the bracket. Eight embodiments of a wire according to the invention are disclosed. The wires of the invention may be used with some prior art brackets with little or no modification to the bracket. An unmodified prior art bracket is shown in conjunction with wires according to the invention and a slightly modified prior art bracket is shown with a wire according to the invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An apparatus for suspending a fixture in conjunction with a wire, said apparatus comprising: 
       an angle bracket having a first flange and a second flange;  
       said first flange defining a first hole adapted to receive a fastener,  
       said second flange defining a second hole adapted to receive the wire,  
       said first flange and said second flange being substantially parallel to each other, and a wire having a first end and a second end, said first end being dimensioned to fit through said second hole, said second end being dimensioned to not fit through said second hole.  
     
     
       2. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a connecting member coupling said first and second flanges.  
     
     
       3. An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
       said connecting member is substantially perpendicular to both of said flanges.  
     
     
       4. An apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
       said connecting member forms an obtuse angle with said first flange.  
     
     
       5. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said second flange has a free end with a lip extending from said free end.  
     
     
       6. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said first end of said wire can be inserted through said second hole and said wire pulled through said second hole until said second end abuts said second flange adjacent to said second hole, and  
       said wire can be removed from said second hole by pushing said first end or pulling said second end.  
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said second end of said wire is formed as a loop.  
     
     
       8. An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein: 
       said loop is substantially circular.  
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said second end of said wire is flattened.  
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said second end of said wire is substantially flat defining a pair of shoulders.  
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said second end of said wire has a nail head configuration.  
     
     
       12. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said second end of said wire has a collar.  
     
     
       13. An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said first end of said wire has a first diameter,  
       said second end of said wire has a second diameter larger than said first diameter,  
       said wire defines a surface of changing diameter adjacent to said second end.  
     
     
       14. An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein: 
       said surface defines a smooth transition between said first and second diameters.  
     
     
       15. A method of suspending a fixture from a surface, comprising: 
       obtaining a length of wire having a first and second end, the second end having an overall dimension larger than that of the first end,  
       obtaining a fastener,  
       obtaining an angle bracket having a first flange and a second flange, the first flange defining a first hole adapted to receive the fastener, the second flange having a second hole adapted to receive a first end of the wire but not allow the passage of the second end of the wire,  
       inserting the first end of the wire into the second hole until the second end of the wire abuts the second flange,  
       inserting the fastener into the first hole.  
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
       fastening the fastener to the surface.  
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising: 
       attaching the fixture to the first end of the wire.  
     
     
       18. A wire for use with a bracket in suspending a fixture from a surface where the bracket has a first flange having a first hole for receiving a fastener and a second flange having a second hole for receiving the wire, said wire comprising: 
       a length of wire at least one foot long having a first end and a second end,  
       said first end being dimensioned to fit through the second hole of the bracket and being adapted to be coupled to the fixture,  
       said second end being dimensioned to not fit through the second hole and being adapted to engage a against the second flange under weight of the fixture, wherein  
       said first end of said wire can be inserted through the second hole of the bracket and said wire pulled through the second hole of the bracket until said second end abuts the second flange adjacent to the second hole, and  
       said wire can be removed from the second hole by pushing said first end or pulling said second end.